Shoppers filed into the U.S. Food CHEF’STORE Friday for a sneak peek of the new store and to take advantage of lower prices on bulk items.
“One big difference is we don’t require membership or a membership fee,” said Ryan Wheedon, senior director of sales and marketing, in comparing it to other business models. “We’re built for businesses but open to everyone.”
The 20,000 square foot store at 102 Mason McKnight Jr Pkwy. features fresh produce, dairy, meat, deli and pantry items as well as kitchen/restaurant equipment and supplies. It’s for restaurants, chef and backyard grillers.
Augusta’s store is the 97th store to open and the second one in Georgia. A CHEF’STORE opened in Sandy Springs in February.
It serves as a more convenient location for restaurant staff to stock up on needed items; many of them currently travel to Columbia, according to James Allen with the Metro Augusta Chamber of Commerce, who took part in a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday.
“This is such a great blessing to the community,” said Allen, who added that 79% of the businesses in Augusta area are small businesses and many of them are restaurants.
Wheedon said Augusta’s response to the store has been positive.
“I don’t know if I’ve seen a business preview day start out as strong as this one has,” he said.
Construction on the store began before Hurricane Helene hit the area in September 2024., but the site was damaged.
The CHEF’STORE will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The official grand opening is Aug. 23. There will be free hot dogs, soda and chips; food sampling and demonstrations and $100 gift card raffle every hour.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards and received the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
